[10/25/11 - 07:35 PM]"The X Factor" and Verizon Announce First-Ever Voting Via Twitter for a Television SeriesAfter the finalists perform on Wednesday, November 2, voting will open for the first time.

[via press release from FOX]

"THE X FACTOR" AND VERIZON ANNOUNCE FIRST-EVER VOTING VIA TWITTER FOR A TELEVISION SERIES

OFFICIAL VOTING SPONSOR VERIZON GIVES FANS AN UNPRECEDENTED FIVE WAYS TO CAST THEIR VOTES FOR "THE X FACTOR" FINALISTS

Voting Begins After LIVE Performance Show Airing Wednesday, November 2, on FOX

Tonight, Syco Television, FremantleMedia and FOX announced a partnership with Twitter to allow fans - for the first time in television - to cast votes for their favorite finalists on THE X FACTOR via Twitter; and fans also can vote via mobile App with Verizon Touch Voting on The Xtra Factor App.

Verizon, the show's official voting sponsor, and THE X FACTOR will offer viewers five ways to vote, including: 1) Twitter; 2) Verizon Touch Voting on The Xtra Factor App on Verizon Android devices; 3) toll-free calling; 4) text messaging for Verizon Wireless customers; and 5) online at TheXFactorUSA.com. Fans with valid Facebook accounts can also vote at Facebook.com/TheXFactorUSA, giving The X FACTOR unprecedented online reach. All five methods of voting are managed by Telescope, Inc., an independent vote management company.

After the finalists perform LIVE on Wednesday, Nov. 2 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), voting will open for the first time. The first voting results will be revealed on the LIVE results show Thursday, Nov. 3 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

Fans can vote via Twitter using the instructions and prompt at twitter.thexfactorusa.com. Once fans sign up for Twitter, they must then follow @TheXFactorUSA and cast their votes via Direct Message. Direct Messaging is a private way to communicate on Twitter. Votes will not be publicly visible. Tweets will not count as votes.

In addition to this groundbreaking voting method, Twitter will remain a part of THE X FACTOR throughout the season through elements such as judge Tweets and finalist handles. Periodically, viewers at home also will be able to see real-time Twitter data on-air through graphics powered by Mass Relevance. And, viewers can Tweet from within The Xtra Factor App.

"I think it's fantastic that Verizon and THE X FACTOR are giving fans so many different ways to vote. Launching touch screen voting on Verizon's The Xtra Factor App and the new voting on Twitter is really exciting, I love that the audience has more and more choice in the way that they can vote," said Simon Cowell.

"Verizon's technology offers our customers multiple options for voting for their X FACTOR favorites," said John Harrobin, Vice President, Marketing at Verizon Wireless. "We are especially excited to provide Verizon Touch Voting to fans with the App on their Android devices. Smartphone customers can vote by simply touching the image of their favorite finalist within The Xtra Factor App."

"THE X FACTOR has raised the bar for innovative television with its use of Twitter to create a 360-degree experience around the show's judges, finalists and viewers," said Chloe Sladden, Director of Content and Programming at Twitter. "Fans flock to Twitter during live television events and have been voicing their opinions with Tweets for years. We're thrilled to see the creators of THE X FACTOR push the envelope further by being the first television show to formalize this phenomenon through Twitter voting."

"THE X FACTOR is dedicated to providing its fans with groundbreaking and innovative digital and social programs," added David Luner, Executive Vice President, Consumer Products and Interactive at FremantleMedia Enterprises. "This first-of-its-kind partnership between Twitter and THE X FACTOR enables fans to interact with and influence the show in a new and viral manner that will elevate the social conversation around the show, fostering a deeper, personal connection with the brand."

Verizon Wireless customers with compatible Android devices can get The Xtra Factor App by calling **XF. Then customers vote using Verizon Touch Voting by touching the image of their favorite finalist in the App during voting, directly following the live performance shows. The Xtra Factor App immerses customers in THE X FACTOR experience on their wireless devices with Verizon Live View, which offers exclusive, live, behind-the-scenes streaming video during the performance shows. Viewers can also experience the pre-performance backstage frenzy and post-performance emotional reactions of the finalists with live video on their phones, while at the same time watching the live shows on television.

THE X FACTOR viewers who are Verizon Wireless customers may also use text messaging to vote by texting the word "VOTE" to the four-digit short codes (9301, 9302, etc.) for the finalist(s) of their choice each week. Like toll-free voting, text message voting will open following each regional broadcast of the performance shows and America can vote for their favorite finalist(s) for at least two hours, subject to time zone restrictions. All Verizon smartphones require a data package. Message and data charges apply to the download and use of The Xtra Factor App.

Fans who would like to vote online should visit TheXFactorUSA.com and click the "vote" icon. They will be directed to a Facebook login page where they will need to enter their email address and password before being able to cast their vote(s). Fans will also be asked to type in a security word during login. Once they have successfully logged in, the photos and names of the current THE X FACTOR finalists will appear. After fans select their favorite finalist and cast their vote, they will receive confirmation and will be given the option to share who they voted for with their Facebook friends.

Both online voting at TheXFactorUSA.com and Twitter voting are limited to 50 votes per Account user ID. Voting opens at the end of the East/Central broadcast of the performance shows and closes two hours after the Hawaii broadcast.

For toll-free voting via phone, lines will open directly following each regional broadcast of the performance shows and America can vote for their favorite finalist(s) via toll-free telephone lines for at least two hours, subject to time zone restrictions. Each week, viewers can call one of the designated telephone numbers - each one corresponding to one of the finalists - to cast their vote. The numbers are 1-855-THE-XF-01 (-02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -08, etc). The results will be revealed during the weekly LIVE broadcasts on Thursdays (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed).

Visit TheXFactorUSA.com for up-to-the-minute news, videos and information. Become a fan of THE X FACTOR on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheXFactorUSA, follow the series on Twitter @TheXFactorUSA and join the discussion at #XFactor.

THE X FACTOR was created by Syco Television and is produced by Syco Television and FremantleMedia North America. Rob Wade and Siobhan Greene are executive producers for Syco Television. Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Richard Holloway and Andrew Llinares serve as executive producers for FremantleMedia North America.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 107.7 million total wireless connections, including 90.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About "The X Factor"

Since its debut in 2004, "The X Factor" has remained the U.K.'s #1 program for the last seven years, peaking with an audience of 21 million with 65% audience share for its 2010 finale. The format swiftly broke similar records around the world, where local versions have consistently rated #1. With a worldwide audience now well over 100 million the X Factor airs in over 30 countries. In Denmark, it has ranked #1 for the last four years, peaking with an 80% share of the audience. In Colombia, it has consistently ranked #1 with a 75% share of the audience. Additionally, "The X Factor" consistently delivers a 50% to 65% share of the viewing audiences in Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, France and Italy - with the highest percentage of these shares in A15-34.

In some markets, "The X Factor" has increased the channel average demographic by up to 250%. The series has received numerous honors worldwide, including three BAFTA awards, numerous NTA awards and the coveted Rose d'Or. In the U.K., an unprecedented 1.5 million iTunes downloads were made from "The X Factor" contestant performances in 2010.

Globally, more than 100 million records have been sold by artists launched through the series, including over 90 #1 singles and albums and 150 Top Ten records. The U.S. version of THE X FACTOR launched on FOX in 2011 and is airing in 161 countries worldwide.

About Syco/Simon Cowell

Syco, with offices in London and Los Angeles, is a global music, television and film production joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment. Syco Television owns and produces the BAFTA Award-winning "The X Factor," which has topped the charts around the world. Syco Television is also the owner of the "Got Talent" television format. Versions of both "The X Factor" and "Got Talent" are co-produced by Syco, and are shown in more than 70 countries and have won multiple awards including national television awards and BAFTAs. Syco is also the record label home for such diverse international recording stars as Leona Lewis and Il Divo. Cowell has worked with artists selling more than 200 million albums and delivering more than 180 No. 1 records. In 2009, "Britain's Got Talent" launched the global singing career of Susan Boyle. Her debut Syco album sold over eight million units in six weeks, making it the world's biggest-selling album of 2009 and the fastest-selling album in history, with a total of 20 million records sold to date, making her the biggest selling female artist in the world in 2010.

In 2009, Cowell was named No. 1 in The Hollywood Reporter's Top 50 Most Powerful in Reality TV and Entertainment Weekly's Top Entertainer of the Year. In 2010 Simon Cowell was awarded Variety International's Humanitarian Award for his extensive charitable work, The Rose d'Or Golden Jubilee Award and BAFTA's Special Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry and development of new talent. He also appeared on Time Magazine's list of Most Influential People in the World and was awarded the International Emmy Founders Award.

About FremantleMedia

FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, which is in turn 90 percent owned by Bertelsmann AG, one of the world's major media and entertainment companies. FremantleMedia's worldwide production arm is responsible for many of the world's highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama and factual entertainment programmes. FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment around the world. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes FremantleMedia North America, UFA, talkbackTHAMES, FremantleMedia Australia and Original Productions amongst others) has operations in 22 countries, one of the most comprehensive global networks, creating nearly 10,000 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. FremantleMedia has some of the world's most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally, produces such programmes as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in the US), Hole In The Wall, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK), Take Me Out, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten, and Neighbours.

About Fox Broadcasting Company

Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) is a unit of News Corporation and the leading broadcast television network among Adults 18-49. FOX finished the 2010-2011 season at No. 1 in the key adult demographic for the seventh consecutive year - a feat that has never been achieved in broadcast history - while continuing to dominate all network competition in the more targeted Adults 18-34 and Teen demographics. FOX airs 15 hours of primetime programming a week as well as late-night entertainment programming, major sports and Sunday morning news.